The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-05-13
AUNT POLLY PIDGE.
Was Marian Gray Bound to Her
in Any Way9

Where shall we cut the tie of kim
dredP To what extent can relation
ship be diluted, before it ceases to be
relationship / have an aunt $50
called), who comes upon us in semi
annual visitations, which are as I'M
failing and unwelcome as the spring
and autumn house-cleanings. Years
ago, my beloved Aunt Mary became
the wife of Nathan Pidge. That she
was woman of unusual independence
and strength of m ind, she proved by
cheerfully adopting such an undignifed
name.
After welded life of forty years,
Aunt Mary died, leaving Uncle Nathan
alone, in his second childhood. Per-
haps he found it insupportable to re-
main the sole representative of the
line of Pidges; or perhaps his house
keeper Polly Judkins, may have
charmed him by her diligent dosing.
At all events, after year of mourning.
he married her, and shortly afterward
died.
Now the question arises, because my
Aunt Mary was the first wife of
Nathan Pidge, does it follow that
Polly Pidge, his second wife, is at all
akin to us? She, evidently, has no
doubs of il. but claims orr hosnitalitv
without limit.
We were cozilY seated by the sitting
room fire one October evening, with
the comfortable drawn up in front of
nicely-swept hearth, when the village
stage Cooking, with its huge. covered
top, like a Quaker bonnet on wheels)
stopped at the gate.
There was q little pleasurable excite
ment at first, of wondering what visit
Ors had arrived but the next moment
enthusiasm was changed into vexation,
for there was no installing the uncouth
figure and peculiar garments of Aunt
Polly Pidge. My mother being gone,
welcomed the guest with as good q
grace as possible, and led her into the
room which had seemed a moment be-
fore, so cheerful and bright, feeling
that now its cheerfulness was all gone.
There dear, put the bundles right
down by the fire, SOS to take the chill
off shall want some things out of
them; and you may leave the soapstone
on the tire-frame, it will get warm by
bedtime.
So saying, Aunt Polly seated herself
IN rocking-chair, and relieved her
carpet-sack of its contents. 1t was a
peripatetic apothecary shop. was that
sachel. Out of it came bottles of lini-
ment, camphor, ammonia and sundries,
whose names ! despair of remembering.
"You can put the walls on the man
tel, to have them handy" said Aunt
Pidge, "for it appears to me I've got q
spell of the sciatiky coming on"
My father, as he entered, looked
amused. He little dreamed of the
suppressed vexation felt, went out
to prepare for this troublesome guest,
with as serene q face rs l could COM
mand, But on returning, few min
utes later, to say that tea was waiting,
Aunt Pidge declared "she didn't want
me to take extra steps for her, I might
bring it on waiter-she wasn't at all
particular" adding, as seemed about
to urge her supping in civilized
way, that, besides, she was afraid
of the draught in the great dining
ROOM"
She prevailed, and the sitting-room
was converted into an eating-saloon
withal, when the door-bell rang. Most
fervently hoping the conner might
prove to be the butchers boy, | an
swered the summons, and ushered in
Mr.. Allis.
This Mr.. Allis was our high-school
teacher, and quite the lion of the vii
lage. l had met him several times at
evening parties, and this was his first
call He must have thought me strange
ly agitated, but felt much more like
beating a hasty retreat than present.
ing him to my worthy relative, who
sat, teacup in hand, awaiting the intro
duction.
"Mr. Allis, Mrs. Pidge," said I, pur-
posely emitting the aunt.
"Who, dearP" asked Aunt Pidge,
staring fixedly at the gentleman, as
though, her ears failing her, she ex-
pected her eyes to supply their place.
I've got terrible buzzing in my
ears; Tn afraid the tinny-pum is af-
fected."
''Mr, Allis, our high-school teacher, :"
repeated
"Oh, Mr.. Allen, your name sounds
familiar. Are you any way related to
the Aliens in StumptonP"
Mr.. Allis politely replied in the neg
ative. l. was fortunate for me that
Aunt Pidge, finishing her supper just
then, gave me an opportunity for
escaping from the room. l could bet
ter recover my composure in solitude
Bathing my burning cheeks with cold
water from the kitchen pump,
thought, with deep modification, of the
Uttered room l had left, of the little
tin cup of catnip-tea, which Aunt
Pidge had insisted on stepping over the
Goals, of her countless wrappings
strewn about in every corner, but,
most of all, her own comical figure.
For Aunt Pidge was an animated Their
mometer, whose degrees of heat and
cold were marked by succession of
capes. In the heat of the summer, she
mounted only one; but, as the tenn
perature grew colder, she added
another, and another, each being a
trifle smaller than the last. This night
she wore her maximum number, to
protect her during lsr chilly ride.